Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

When Karissa Livia sat down for her latest manicure, she wasn’t just thinking about a bold new design—she was planning a heartfelt surprise for her 15-year-old son, Shay. Shay, who is visually impaired, had previously enjoyed hearing his mom describe her nail colors. But this time, Karissa wanted to take it a step further.

The result? A manicure featuring a message in braille, spelled out with tiny rhinestones that Shay could feel. And the message? “Love U, Shay.”


“I’m always trying to find ways to make him feel included in the world,” Karissa told People in an exclusive interview. After followers suggested incorporating braille into her nails in response to an earlier TikTok, Karissa brought the idea to her nail technician. Though the tech had never created braille nails before, she was up for the challenge, using rhinestones to craft the tactile design.


The big reveal was captured in a now-viral TikTok video with over 21.1 million views and nearly 7,000 comments. Shay’s immediate reaction melted hearts across the platform. Running his fingers over the dots, he exclaimed, “You got braille on your nails? Ouuu! Hype, baby, hype,” before breaking into a huge smile.

A Message of Inclusion and Love

For Karissa, it’s not just about the braille—it’s about showing Shay that he’s seen and loved in a world that doesn’t always prioritize accessibility. “Regardless of how he interprets something, I still think it’s important to describe things to him,” she said. Shay associates colors with feelings and memories, which adds a deeper layer to how he experiences the world.


Karissa’s approach to parenting and inclusion doesn’t stop at creative manicures. In another video, she demonstrates how Shay navigates modern technology as a blind person. Using screen readers and accessibility features, Shay showcases how he uses his phone with impressive skill. It's just one of many examples of how Karissa encourages her son to thrive in a sighted world.


@karissalivia Replying to @rach’☆ blind people can use phones in many ways but the @HableOne is his fave! #hableone #assistivetech #blind ♬ original sound - Karissa Livia

The TikTok comments reflect the profound impact of Karissa’s videos. User @Puddingdog2018 wrote, “This is the gentle parenting that works,” while @CrazyCarChik added, “Imagine growing up with a love like this.” Even Shay’s misstep while reading the message turned into a sweet moment. At first, he mistook the “U” in “Love U” for an “H” due to their similar braille structure, prompting laughter and love from commenters. As Karissa explained, “He read U incorrectly as H since there’s only one dot difference between the letters, but he caught it quickly.”

A Viral Moment, A Lasting Impact

For Karissa, these small acts of love are about more than just a viral moment. “I want to make sure that I do everything I can to help him thrive and be the best that he can be,” she said. TikTok users like @Dudesprettycool couldn’t agree more: “Your boy is your biggest fan, and I’m here for that. You’re lucky to have him.”




Karissa hopes her story inspires others to find creative ways to connect with their loved ones. As Shay might say, it’s all about the hype.

You can check out Karissa's other TikToks here.


More For You

A boy sits among a collection of shoes.

Representative Image: A boy finds a deep connection to his past in a collection of size 9.5 sneakers.

Photo by Ficky

Teen tries on his late father’s sneakers for the first time in emotional viral video

Few things resonate as deeply as a connection to a lost loved one. These moments often catch us off guard—a forgotten treasure uncovered in the attic or a heartfelt story shared by someone who knew them. But for one teenager, the connection had always been there, waiting patiently for over six years for the boy to be ready or, more precisely, for his feet to grow into it.

A TikTok video, which has garnered nearly 2.4 million views, captured the heartfelt moment when a teenager tried on his late father’s shoes for the first time. Recorded by his mom, the clip brims with joy as the boy slips into the cherished pairs one by one, exclaiming, "I made it, Mama. I made it."

Keep ReadingShow less
A young boy with a cutting edge bionic arm.

Images like this used to only come from movies, but they're becoming a reality.

via Open Bionics (used with permission)

Mom honors her loss by helping 3 children get bionic arms for Christmas

Think bionic arms are just the stuff of superhero movies? Think again. Thanks to an incredible blend of cutting-edge technology and the power of community, three children in the UK were given their new "life-changing" Hero Arms on December 12—just in time for Christmas. For Zoey Hampton-Pigeon (8), Finley Jarvis (11), and Ettie Baker (8), their new “Hero Arms” aren’t just cool gadgets—they’re life-changing miracles.

Their story is made possible by the Big Hero 3 campaign, a fundraising initiative started by mother Sarah Lockey, who launched the campaign to help families of children with missing limbs fundraise for bionic arms. This grassroots movement raised a total of £60,000 for the three children—£40,000 from the Open Bionics Foundation, The Worshipful Company of Glovers, Foresight Group, and an anonymous donor and an additional £20,000 raised collectively by the three families themselves.

Keep ReadingShow less

Mom’s viral “Zoomies” meltdown method is saving parents from toddler chaos

Tantrums, a staple of the "terrible twos," are a well-known challenge for parents of toddlers aged 1 to 4. These emotional outbursts can be difficult to manage, especially when they happen frequently. While many strategies exist to deal with these meltdowns, Alivia Cromartie’s unique approach is making waves on social media.

Cromartie, a mother from Georgia, has adapted a behavior commonly seen in dogs known as "Zoomies." Zoomies, or Frenzy Random Activity Periods (FRAPs), are when dogs suddenly burst into energetic running. Cromartie applied this playful technique to calm her 18-month-old daughter, Icey, and it worked wonders.

Keep ReadingShow less
Three panels depicting a post on TikTok by Summer Pfleger.

Summer Pfleger caught the moment she met her husband on camera.

TikTok | @summerwa101

A simple dare led to forever for this unlikely couple

Love can bloom in the most unexpected ways, and for Summer Pfleger, it all started with a dare. The TikTok user, who goes by @summerwa101, shared a heartwarming video documenting how a playful challenge from her mother led her to the love of her life.

It all began when Pfleger noticed a handsome employee at the front desk of a Holiday Inn. Encouraged by her mom, she nervously picked up the phone and made a call that would change everything.

Keep ReadingShow less
Seth Rogen and wife Lauren Miller

Seth Rogen and wife Lauren Miller.

jdeeringdavis/Wikipedia

Seth Rogen doubles down on staying child-free despite criticism

Actor Seth Rogen and his wife Lauren Miller have been happily married since 2011. As their relationship has grown, one thing has not: their desire to have a family. Rogen came under fire following an appearance on the The Diary Of A CEO podcast in March 2024, where he explained to host Steven Bartlett that he and Miller have decided to be child-free. “There's a whole huge thing I'm not doing, which is raising children,” he shared in the interview.

Rogen explained to Bartlett that he and Miller had chosen a different path than a lot of their friends. “I mean, a lot of people have kids before they even think about it, from what I've seen, honestly,” he said. “You just are told, you go through life, you get married, you have kids—it’s what happens.”

Keep ReadingShow less